Lifting truck



Nov. 24, 1931- w. STUEBING, JR 1,332,917

LIFTING' TRUCK Filed Feb. 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. William 51Z1ebin ,dr:

g BY

I ATTORzEYS I Patented Nov. 24, 1931 unirsn STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM STUEBING, JR., OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOE, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 TIL-IE YALE & TOWNE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT,

A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT LIFTING 'rnucx Application filed February 14,1929. Serial No. 339,758.

The present invention relates to lifting trucks of the type in which the steering and draft handle or tongue is operative to lift the load.

Among the objects to which the invention is addressed are the following: to provide an improved lifting truck whereof the steering tongue may be operated to lift the load when said tongue is swung in a plane other than he vertical plane of the longitudinal center ine of the truck; to provide means whereby the lifting operation may be performed by a plurality of strokes of the draft tongue; and to attain these and other objects without sacrificing simplicity of structure and directness of action between'the operative lifting and lifted parts.

Lifting trucks wherein more than one stroke of the draft tongue is required completely to elevate the load are frequently termed multiple-lift trucks, and almost in variably involve considerable complexity of parts between the draft tongue and the elevating frame of the truck, especially in multiple-lift trucks capable of being operated to lift the load when the draft tongue occupies any one of various steering positions to the right or left of the longitudinal center line of the truck.

In the illustrative embodiment of the present invention hereinafter described simplicity of structure has been attained tlurough the provision of direct connection between the steering tongue and the elevating frame, the truck shown having its steering tongue provided with a unitary rigid lifting member extending between the steering tongue and elevating frame and desi led to perform a plurality of independent lifting operations, maintaining, in each of these operations, its operative lifting relationship to the frame regardless of movements of the steering tongue tovarious steering positions. The arrangement of the parts is such that as the steering tongue is swung laterally to different steering positions the lifting member, positively and permanently connected with the steering tongue, swings with it and assumes different angular positions relative to the elevating frame corresponding to the angular steering positions of the tongue.

These features, in combination with others, hereinafter described and claimed, differentiate the present invention from the trucks hitherto in use and may be better understood from a consideration of the following deseription of said illustrative embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is a plan view, partially broken away, of a lifting truck embodying the invention showing the lifting frame in its lowest position and the lifting mechanism in position to begin the first elevating movement;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and shows the parts in the same position as in Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the lifting mechanism taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1, except that the parts are shown in position to begin the second lifting movement;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 3, but shows the elevating frame in its uppermost position.

The illustrative truck shown has a main frame 5, and a load-supporting elevating frame 6. A steering head 7 is rotatably mounted in a transverse yoke 8 forming a part of the main frame, to whichyoke the side-bars of the main frame are rigidly secured as by bolts 10, best shown in Fig. 1. The elevating frame is supported on the main frame by four sets of compound link members each comprising a primary link 11 pivoted at one end to the main frame and having at the other end an integral projection arranged to rest upon the support block 12, fixed to the main frame, when the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. When the parts are in this position the primary link 11 forms a supporting bridge to which is pivoted one end of the secondary link 18, the other end of which is pivoted to the elevating frame 6.

About midway of the forward side of each secondary link 13 is a surface designed to turn into contact with the stop member 14 integral with the primary link 11, as best ill shown in Fig. 3. Thus, further turning movement of the secondary link 13 results in simultaneous pivotal movement of both links 11 and 13 about the point of connection between the former and the main frame.

Mounted on the front of the elevating frame 6 where the forward ends of the elevating frame side bars are connected by the transverse yoke 15, is an engagement member 15a preferably integral with the yoke 15 and arranged to present lifting contact surfaces to the lifting member or hook 16. The hook 16 is pivoted to the steering tongue 17, which is in turn pivotally connected (as is usual in lifting trucks of this type) to the steering post which carries the front wheels of the truck.

As may best be observed in Figs. 1, 3 and 1, the engagement member 15a is arcuate in shape and is provided with two arcuate de pending ledges 18 and 19 wherewith the lifting hook 16 may selectively engage. The conformation of the engagement member 15a and its arcuate ledges 16 and 19 permits the lifting and lifted elements to assume various different angular positions relative to each other so the lifting engagement may be made and maintained when the steering tongue 17 occupies any one of various steering positions to the right or left of the longitudinal center line of the truck.

Fig. 2 shows the truck and its parts in normal position at the beginning of the first lifting operation. The elevating frame 6 is in its lowermost position, the steering tongue 17 stands substantially upright, and the inner end of the lifting member 16 has been swung upwardly (by depression of its in tegral foot treadle 20) to engage the upper ledge 19 of the engagement member 15a.

The steering tongue 17 may now be swung downwardly and forwardly into the position shown by broken lines in Fig. 3, the elevating frame 6 having thus been drawn forwardly and upwardly upon the links 13 which have turned upon the pivotal connections between these links and the links 11.

The extreme forward portion of the ele vating frame 6 carries a lug 21 adapted, as the parts approach the position shown in Fig. 3, to make locking engagement with the inner end of the locking hook 22. The look ing hook 22 is pivotally mounted upon the r yoke 8 of the main frame, and is provided with a forwardly extending treadle 23 whereby it may be operated to release the lug 21 and permit the elevating frame 6 to descend.

The underside of the locking hook 22, approximately mid-way of its length, has a recess 24:, the purpose of which will presently be described and forward of this depression the locking hook 22 has a depending stop lug 25 which serves to prevent the inner end of the locking hook 22 from dropping out of range of the lug 21.

lVhen the first lifting stroke of the steering tongue 17 has brought the elevating frame and its connected parts to the position shown in Fig. 3, and the steering tongue and lifting member 16 occupy the position shown by broken lines in that figure, the steering tongue 17 may then be swung upwardly to its upright position, the elevating frame being held against descent by the locking book 22 and lug 21. This upward movement of the steering tongue 17 frees the lifting member 16 to drop away from the ledge 19 by gravity and remain out of operative lifting position unless and until it is again lifted, as by depression of the foot treadle 20.

To accomplish the second lifting movement the lifting member 16 is again raised by its foot treadle, this time to make operative engagement with the lower ledge 18; and a repetition of the lifting operation will move the parts into the position shown in Fig. 4 where the elevating frame 6 will be held by the engagement of the lug 21 with the depression 24 in the locking hook 22.

During this second lifting operation the elevating frame 6 has been swung upwardly and forwardly upon the two link members 11 and 13 turning as one about the pivotal connection between the link 11 and the main frame 5.

Thus is provided multiple-lift mechanism operative by reason of advantageously chang ing leverage, involving a change of fulcrum point, to enable a given load to be raised a necessary distance with less expenditure of efiort than is ordinarily required, yet with-- out the use of complicated mechanism or connections between the steering tongue and the elevating frame. V

lvlicn the steering tongue 17 is swung upwardly from its position as shown in Fig. 4, the inner end of the lifting member 16 falls by gravity, as before, out of contact with the ledge 18, and does not interfere with the use of the tongue 17 for drawing and steering the truck.

To lower the elevating frame to its original position it is only necessary to trip the locking hook 22, allowing the elevating frame and its load to descend at a speed controlled by a braking device such as the hydraulic check 26, interposed between the main frame and the elevating frame.

It will be understood that the invention may be variously modified and embodied within the scope of the subjoined claims.

Claims:

1. A lifting truck comprising, in combination, a main frame having a swivelled steering head, an elevating frame mounted on the main frame and movable upwardly relative thereto, a vertically swinging steering lever, a direct connection between the steering lever and elevating frame comprising interengaging hook members, one of which has a plurality of vertically spaced arcuate engaging portions adapted to be engaged by the other hook at different operative positions of the elevating frame.

2. A liftin truck comprising, in combination, a main frame having a swivelled steering head, an elevating frame mounted on the main frameand movable upwardly relative thereto, a vertically swinging steering lever, an arcuate hook member secured to the elevating frame andhaving a plurality of vertically spaced hooking portions, and a hook member pivoted to the steering lever to' swing vertically in the plane of movement of the steering lever to engage a selected one of said plurality of hooking portions of the arcuate hook member in various steering positions of said steeringlever;

3. A lifting truck, comprising, in combination,.a main frame having a swivelled steering head, an elevating frame mounted on the main frame and movable upwardly relative thereto, a vertically swinging steering lever, a member carried by the elevating frame having a plurality of vertically spaced engagement surfaces each extending laterally a substantial distance, a m'ember carried by the steering handle and engageable with and disengageable from a selected one of said engagement surfaces of said laterally extending member in various steering positions of the steering lever to lift the elevating frame.

4. A lifting truck comprising, in combination, a main frame having a swivelled steering head, an elevating frame mounted on the main frame and movable upwardly relative thereto, a vertically swinging steering lever, a member presenting a plurality of vertically spaced hooks extending transversely of the elevating frame on an arc the center of which lies rearwardly of the axis of the swivelled head, and means for successively connecting the handle to said hooks at difierent operative positions of said elevating frame.

5. A lifting truck comprising in combination a main frame, an elevating frame, a steering lever, a double hook member having a plurality of ledges extending transversely of the elevating frame on an arc whose center lies forward of the member, and means for successively connecting the steering lever to the ledges of the hook memher to lift the elevating frame.

6. A lifting truck comprising, in combination, a main frame having a swivelled steering head, an elevating frame having parallel surfaces extending laterally a substantial distance, a vertically swinging steering lever, a hook pivotally carried by the steering lever and engageable with the elevating frame at different points of said surfaces to lift said elevating frame.

7 A lifting truck comprising, in combination, a main frame, an elevating frame mounted thereon and arranged to be upward- 1y movable relatively thereto, a steering swivel mounted upon said main frame, a steering tongue pivotally mounted upon said steering swivel and provided with a rearwardly extending lifting member arranged tobe moved by said steering tongue to raise said elevating frame, means rigidly mounted'upon said elevating frame provided with a plurality of vertically spaced surfaces each extending a substantial distance to the right and left of the longitudinal center-line of said elevating frame and so positioned as to be successively in the operative path of the free end of said lifting member when the latter is in position to raise said elevating frame whether-said lifting member be operated to the right or left of said center line, whereby said lifting member may successively engage said surfaces to raise said elevating frame when said steering tongue is operated to the right or left of its straight forward position. v

8. A lifting truck comprising, in combination, a main frame, an elevating frame a mounted thereon and arranged to be longitudinally and upwardly vmovable relative thereto, a steering swivel mounted upon said main frame, a steering tongue pivotally mounted uponsaid steeringswivel, a lifting member operatively connected to said steering tongue to raise said elevating frame, said elevating frame being provided with vertically spaced surfaces each adapted to effectively engage said lifting member at a'different position of the elevating frame and each extending a substantial distance to the right and left from its longitudinal center line to interpose differentportions in the operative paths of said lifting member when said tongue is operated to theright or left of the longitudinal center line of the truck.

9. A lifting truck comprising in combination a main frame having supporting and steering wheels, a steering tongue provided with a pivotal connection toisaid steering Wheels permitting said tongue to be swung i11 a-vertical plane and having a rearwardly extending lifting member, an elevating frame upwardly movable relatively to said main frame and having a plurality of contact members each positioned to engage and form a pivotal connection. with the free end of said lifting member, and extending in an arcuate path on either side of the longitudinal center line of the truck whereby said pivotal connection is maintained as said steering tongue is turned laterally to various steering positions, and means, independent of said lifting member, to lock said elevating frame in raised position.

10. A lifting truck comprising in combi- 1 nation a main frame having supporting wheels and a steering wheel mounted to turn on a vertical axis, a steering tongue having a point of connection with said steering wheel and provided with a rearwardly-extending lifting member, an elevating frame up wardly movable relatively to said main frame and, having lifting member engaging con tact surfaces positioned at different distances from said tongue to afford successively occurring points of connection in a longitudinal direction with the free end of said lifting member, one of said surfaces being disposed a substantial distance in a horizontal arcuate path to present laterally occurring points of contact in accordance with lateral movements of said steering tongue as the latter is turned to various steering positions whereby the parts may maintain operative lifting relationship when said tongue is in said arious positions, and means independent of said lifting member to lock said elevating frame in its elevated position.

11. A lifting truck comprising in combination a main frame having supporting wheels and a steering wheel mounted to turn on a vertical axis, a steering tongue pivotally connected to said steering wheel and provided with a rearwardly-extending lifting member, an elevating frame upwardly movable relatively to said main frame and having surfaces positioned at different longitudinal distances from said tongue to make successii e lifting contacts with the free end of said lifting member, said lifting member being arranged to be turned horizontally by and with said steering tongue a substantial distance without moving out of operative lifting position relative to one of said surfaces whereby said elevating frame may be lifted through said tongue when the latter occupies various steering positions substantially to one side of its straight forward position.

12. A lifting truck comprising in combination spaced supporting wheels, an elevating frame upwardly movable relatively thereto. a draft tongue mounted to pivot vertically and horizontally relatively to said frame and provided with a rigid lifting member movable by and with said tongue to raise said frame relatively to said wheels, and an element integral with said frame pro "ided with a plurality of ledges for cooperative lifting contact with the free end of said rigid lifting member, the parts being shaped and positioned to permit said elevating frame to be elevated in a plurality of steps by said tongue when the latter is operated at substantial distances to one side of its straight forward position.

13. A lifting truck comprising in combination a main frame, an elevating frame, a pair of depending flanges on said elevating frame, a draft tongue pivotally mounted on said main frame, a lifting hook pivotally mounted on said tongue and extending rearwardly toward said flanges, means to raise said hook into lifting contact with one of said flanges, whereby upon downward motion of said tongue said elevating frame may be partially raised, means for moving said elevating frame forward as it is raised whereby said book may make lifting contact with the second of said flanges, and means automatically to lock said elevating frame in its uppermost position.

14. In a lifting truck, a main frame, an elevating frame, a lifting and steering tongue pivotally mounted on the main frame, a lifting hook mounted on the tongue, means interposed between said hook and the elevating frame whereby said frame is raised by repeated lifting operations of the tongue, and pivoted connecting and supporting means between the main frame and the elevating frame whereby the elevating frame moves in different pivotal relation to the main frame during successive lifting operations of the tongue.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 11th day of February, 1929.

WILLIAM STUEBING, JR. 

